Display rack



Jan. 19, 1932. A MERKLE 1,841,753

DISPLAY RACK,

Filed March 30, 1931 '2 Sheets- Sheet 1 JakzZAJIfeMZZe Jan. 19, A E DISPLAY RACK Filed March 50, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT JOHN A. MERKLE, OF PARIS, ILLINOIS DISPLAY RACK Application filed March 30, 1931. i Serial No. 526,401.

This invention relates to a display rack designed primarily for use in the display of brooms and other long handled devices.

It is an object of the invention to provide a display rack which can be collapsed into a flat package and subsequently set up quickly for use.

A further object is to provide a display rack which can be transported and stored readily because of its collapsable construction.

A still further object is to provide a display rack the parts of which will not become accidentally displaced relative to each other after the rack has been set up for use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the display rack.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section taken from front to rear, the long handle of a broom or the like being shown by broken lines in position thereon.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the front member of the rack.

Figure a is a front elevation of the lower portion of the front member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the body member.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a back panel formed 0 preferably of heavy paper board and pro vided along its sides with rearwardly extending flanges 2. Adjacent to its top a back panel 1 is provided with a transverse slit 3 terminating between upwardly extending slits 4 whereby there are produced a lower support flap 5 and an upper locking flap 6. A slot 7 can be provided in the panel adjacent to the center thereof for the reception of the hand of a person desiring to carry the rack after it has been set up for use.

Secured to the outer side of each of the flanges 2 is a side strip 8 which extends forwardly from the back panel 1 and is divided by a score line 9 into a rear portion 10 and a front portion 11. The front edge of the portion 11 is inclined downwardly and: forwardly as shown at 12 and extends into a notch 13 which is provided in a supporting shoulder 141 which extends forwardly in front of said edge 12 and constitutes a rest. The upper part of the front edge of rear portion 10 is inclined as at 15 to aline with the edge 12 and terminates at a forwardly extending shoulder 16 which is substantially in horizontal alinement with the transverse slit 3.

A front strip 17 is interposed between the front portions 11 of the side panels 8 and has side flanges 18 which are suitably secured to said front portions in front of the notches 13. The upper edge of panel 17 is flush with the shoulders 14.

The front panel of the rack has been inclicated at 19 and is provided at its upper end with a forwardly extending flange 20 on which is secured a top strip 21 which is formed with inwardly extending side shoul ders 22. The strip is extended rearwardly from these side shoulders a distance substantially equal to the distance between panel 1 and the shoulders 16. The back portion of the top strip 21 is bent downwardly to provide a flange 28. The width of the top strip 21 back of the shoulders 22 is substantially equal to the distance between the upper portions of the side panels 8. I

A series of apertures 2% is provided in the top strip 21 and an apron 25 may hang downwardly from the front of the top strip. This apron is adapted to contain any suitable advertising or display matter. r

The bottom of the panel 19 is secured to a depending flange 26 formedat the back edge of a bottom strip 27. This bottom strip may be reinforced by a strip 28 and has a series of apertures 29 preferably of less diameter than the apertures 24. Notches 30 are formed in flange 26 and that portion of panel 19 back of the flange. These notches 30 and the notches 13 are adapted to interfit as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2.

Under normal conditions the side panels 8 I are folded inwardly toward each other along the score lines 9 with the front portions 11 1 'ing flat upon the back portions 10 and the flanges 18 disposed in alinement with the front strip 17. The bottom strip 27 is folded upwardly against panel 19 and the top strip 21 and apron 25 are swung downwardly so as to lie flat against the front panel.

With the front and back portions of the rack thus collapsed, they will make a compact flat bundle which can be readily stored and transported.

\Vhen it is desired to set up the rack for use the side panels 8 are opened outwardly substantially to the positions shown in Figure 5. The front panel is then lowered so that the notches and 13 will ii'iterlit and the bottom strip 27 will be supported by shoulders 14. The upper portion of panel 19 will be swung backwardly under the shoulders 16 with the shoulders 22 thrusting against thefrout edges of the side panels 8. The flange 23 is then pressed downwardly into the lower portions of slits 4 back of flap 5, while flap 6 is pressed to position over the top strip 21 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thereb to act as a. lock to prevent the top strip rom being lifted accidentally out of engagement with the flap 5.

With the parts thus assembled the rack will be kept in proper shape and can be carried readily. It will also stand iirmly on a supporting surface and the handles of brooms or the like can be inserted downwardly through the large openings 24 so that their lower ends will rest in the small lower openings 29.

When it is desired to knock down and collapse the rack it is merely necessary to press back the flap 6 so as to release the top strip 21. Said strip can then be swung upwardly to disengage flange 23 from. flap 5 after which the front panel 19 can be lifted out of position and all of the parts folded as heretofore described.

What is claimed is:

1. A display rack including a body portion having inwardly foldable sides, upper and lower shoulders extending forwardly from said sides, a front panel insertible againstthe sides beneath the upper shoulders and back of the lower shoulders, top and bottom strips extending from the front panel between and in engagement with the upper and lower shoulders, and cooperating means upon the top stri and the body portion for holding said b0 y portion and the panel assembled.

2. A display rack including a body portion having inwardly fold-able sides, upper and lower shoulders extending forwardly from the sides, a connection between the lower portions of the sides at the front thereof, a front panel insertible under the upper shoulders and into interfitting engagementwith the lower shoulders, 21 bottom strip extending from the panel and supported by the lower shoulders, an apertured top strip extending forwardly from the panel and backwardly beneath the upper shoulders and between the sides of the body, and cooperating means on the top strip and the body portion for holding the front panel assembled with the body portion.

A display rack including a body portion comprising a back panel, a lower front strip, and inwardly foldable sides connecting the back panel and the front strip, article holding means detachably supported by the sides of the body for holding said sides against folding, and cooperating means on the panel of the body portion and on said article holding means for holding the parts assembled, said cooperating means including superposed flaps carried by the back panel of the body portion and a flanged top strip insertible between and back of one of the flaps.

4. A display rack including a body portion having inwardly foldable sides, upper and lower shoulders extending forwardly from said sides, afront panel insertible against the sides beneath the upper shoulders and back of the lower shoulders, top and bottom strips extending from the front panel between and in engagement with the upper and lower shoulders, and means forholding said body portion and the panel assembled.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixed my signature.

JOHN A. MERKLE. 

